Frequently Asked Questions

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March. Throughout the entire day, we collectively pray all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset. Our prayers follow the sun’s path around the globe. WDP’s motto is “Informed prayer leads to prayerful action.” Through World Day of Prayer, women affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence in the world.

Coordinated services of Christian worship and prayer are held across the world in over 170 countries, directed by the international body – the World Day of Prayer International. The program for the service is prepared well in advance by women from one focus country of the
world. Each service has an advertised theme and involves Bible readings, prayers and songs and a reflection.

The motto of the World Day of Prayer is “informed prayer and prayerful action”. The prayer day promotes informed prayer for the women of the focus country who write the service program. The WDP service presents their needs and concerns and their praise to God through the use of Bible passages and prayers and testimonies. The people around the world attending WDP services can then support them by participating in the service. Hopefully too the service will generate subsequent informed action in support of the women of the focus country. The Day of Prayer also encourages Christians of all traditions to join together and express community in prayer and praise to our God – locally and globally..

They confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfil together their common calling to the glory of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Constitution, WDP)

Since the 19th century, Christian women in the United States and Canada have initiated cooperative activities in many areas including concern for women and children, the role of prayer in mission work and women linking world peace with their involvement in mission work worldwide. The first organized day of prayer held nationally was in Canada on January 9, 1920. In Australia, the first organized day of prayer was held nationally was on.

The World Day of Prayer has its roots in 19th Century women’s prayer groups for mission and later for women in general. After World War 1, this commitment to prayer for women across the world deepened. The movement has always acknowledged that women in many parts of the world have particular needs, and need the solidarity and prayers offered by women and men around the world. The Service program is therefore put together by women, so that others can join with them in prayer on the first Friday in March around the globe.

Every four years an international meeting is held. Each national committee is given the opportunity to submit a theme, along with suitable Bible passages, and may offer to write a service. During the meeting a small group considers the various suggestions for themes and the offers to write the service and chooses themes and countries for the next four years. A writing country does not choose its own theme; this is given to them by the International Executive Committee. The decision is then announced to the delegates at the International Meeting..

Women around the world participate in several ways. Some women are a part of the 170-plus country committees of WDP. Each year, a different country serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service. The International Committee of WDP has representatives from every region of the world and they meet periodically to select future writer countries and WDP themes. Hundreds of thousands of women (and men, youth and children) from around the world and in every region gather to collectively worship on the first Friday in March.

In February 1986, Australia changed the name in line with many countries endeavouring to be more inclusively welcoming to the annual WDP service. In Australia, everyone is now welcome to join in the service – men and women. The service is still written from the point of view of women. The organising committees are still run by women.

Each State Committee prepares the relevant service materials for printing and distribution for their state. Each State Committee is responsible for promoting the WDP so that an increasing number of people in an ever expanding number of venues are included in the services from all the Christian denominations in a suburb, town or region. Each State Committee provides encouragement and new ideas and training for those people who are arranging a local WDP service.

Any Christian organisation representing women, which subscribes to the WDP statement of faith and is keen to promote the WDP service may be included. Elected positions on State Committees are President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. All positions are voluntary. State Committee meetings are held as required throughout the year

The states of Australia are listed in a set order.
Every 4 years the next state appearing on the list selects the National Liaison Officer of WDP Australia.
She is the head of the Australian Working Committee for the next 4 years. That committee is elected by her State WDP Committee.
She connects with the International Committee of WDP and sets up a national working committee from her home state.

The international headquarters of WDP are in New York where there are two paid members of staff. They oversee the process of selection of the themes for services and of focus countries, and also the preparation and distribution of the service material. They bring together an Executive Committee which includes two representatives of each region of the world. They meet at least once every two years. Every four years they arrange a larger international gathering of representatives of all the countries involved.

Every 4 years, an International WDP committee meeting is held. Delegates come together from over 170 countries. Any National Committee can submit a theme, with related Bible passages, for consideration. They can also offer to write a service and be the focus country. A Themes Group sifts through the suggestions, looking for common themes and passages. A list of themes with Bible passages is drawn up by this small group, for future services. These themes and passages are allocated to countries who offered to write services. The writing country does not choose its own theme. These focus countries are chosen to give as wide a regional representation as possible. Then a long process of consultation begins, in which drafts go back and forth to the International committee. The whole process is finished 18 months before the date of the service. Finally the Service is sent to each national committee, such as ours in Australia. We may edit the material for Australian conditions, whilst at all times maintaining the integrity of the original. It is then printed and distributed locally. The focus country usually suggests some music and songs, which we try to include, adding our own local music. In all, the service is translated world-wide into over 60 languages and 1000 dialects!

The national committee of each country is asked to choose hymns that fit the theme of the service. In our countries, the initial selection is made during the November residential meeting. Every effort is made to use one or two hymns submitted by the writing country. The committee chooses a mixture of old and newer hymns with something to suit varying tastes.

World Day of Prayer is supported by sacrificial and benevolent mission offerings given by individuals through annual services held in every country around the world. Each of the 170 countries celebrating World Day of Prayer has an organized country committee of ecumenical women representing many cultures, races and faith traditions.

The World Day of Prayer, Australia offerings are used to provide grants to various women and children’s programs. Each country’s committee is responsible for determining the use of the offering as it relates to the theme for each year.

Latest News

The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen’s initiative. It is run under the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action,” and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The movement aims to bring together women of various races, cultures and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year.

Verse of the Day

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:10 (NIV)